^ob)  to  (i^rpnt^e  a 
Cturtf)  Jfeiieration 


It  seems  essential  that  very  simple  prac- 
tical suggestions  be  made  as  to  the  methods 
of  forming  a local  Church  Federation. 
The  procedure  is  the  same  whether  the 
organization  be  for  town,  county,  city, 
or  state. 

There  must  first  be  adequate  leadership. 
It  is  also  imperative  that  no  time  be  lost  by 
needless  experimentation.  Many  counties, 
cities,  and  states  have  effective  Federations 
of  Churches  which  have,  as  a central 
clearing  house,  the  Federal  Council  of  the 
Churches  of  Christ  in  America.  This  na- 
tional Church  Federation  being  a fact,  the 
formation  of  a Local  Federation  is  but  the 
local  application  of  the  modern  principle  of 
federal  union  as  expressed  by  both  the 
commonwealths  and  the  churches  of  the 
American  nation. 

It  is  recommended  that  those  who  seek 
to  form  local  federations  secure  co-opera- 


tion  with  national  and  state  leaders  for  the 
plans  which  have  stood  repeated  tests. 
This  applies  especially  to  model  constitU' 
tions.  It  may  also  prove  helpful  to  co-op- 
erate  with  speakers  of  practical  experience 
to  guide  in  the  preliminary  steps  of  forming 
new  federations. 

The  process  of  organization  is  as  follows: 

Three  meetings  are  customary  for  the 
work. 

The  first  of  these  is  the  Preliminary  Con- 
ference at  which  the  needs  of  the  com- 
munity and  churches  and  the  purpose  and 
plan  of  organization  are  thorougly  dis- 
cussed. A committee  is  appointed  to  draw 
up  a Constitution  to  be  reported  at  the  next 
meeting. 

The  second  meeting,  which  shall  have 
been  authorized  and  appointed  by  the 
first,  is  known  as  the  Organizing  Confer- 
ence. At  this  it  is  well  to  have  present, 
as  far  as  possible,  persons  from  all  the  de- 
nominations or  congregations  which  it  is 
proposed  to  federate.  The  call  should 
mention  the  number  of  persons  to  represent 
each  denomination  or  congregation.  At 
least  one- half  of  these  official  delegates 
should  be  laymen.  These  should  settle 
upon  the  Constitution  which  they  wish  to 


have  adopted  for  the  government  of  the 
Federation  when  it  is  fully  formed.  Those 
who  meet  in  response  to  this  call  should 
not  hesitate  to  proceed  with  the  organiza^ 
tion  because  all  invited  may  not  have  re^ 
sponded. 

It  shall  be  the  business  of  this  Organizing 
Conference  to  send  for  officia  ratification 
and  adoption,  to  the  various  congregations, 
conferences,  conventions,  synods  or  other 
church  meetings,  the  Constitution  which 
has  been  formed  or  selected.  It  is  also  the 
business  of  this  Organizing  Conference  to 
ask  the  same  congregations,  conferences, 
conventions,  synods,  or  other  church  meet- 
ings to  elect  official  representative  delegates 
to  the  next  meeting  which  is  to  complete  the 
organization  of  the  Federation. 

The  third  and  final  meeting  for  organi- 
zing purposes  is,  in  reality,  the  First  Meeting 
of  the  Federation.  The  new  comprehen- 
sive, interdenominational  organization  is 
now  fully  formed  and  is  in  readiness  to 
begin  its  real  organic  life  and  service  in  be- 
half of  the  entire  community  or  state,  ac- 
cording to  the  resources  and  leadership 
which  it  can  command.  The  methods  of 
organizing  and  conducting  a Federation  are 
identical,  whatever  the  units  federated  may 
be.  This,  however,  does  not  apply  to 


One' Minister  Federations  of  churches  in 
country  villages. 

It  is  desirable  that  each  Federation  should 
make  at  the  outset  provision  for  the  neces' 
sary  expenses  of  some  form  of  permanent 
executive  leadership. 

In  communities  where  Ministers'  AssO' 
ciations.  Federations  of  Church  Brother' 
hoods,  Evangelistic  Campaigns,  Men  and 
Religion  Conservation  Committees,  or  other 
cO'Operative  community  movements  are 
in  the  field,  the  work  of  federating  the 
Churches  should  take  into  consideration 
these  movements  as  temporary  or  partial 
phases  or  potential  committees  of  the  sub' 
stantial,  inclusive  and  abiding  work  of  a 
Church  Federation,  the  distinctive  charac' 
ter  of  which  is  to  represent  and  promote 
perpetually  the  religious  and  moral  life  and 
welfare  of  the  entire  community. 


FEDERAL  COUNCIL 

OF  THE 

CHURCHES  OF  CHRIST  IN  AMERICA 

National  Office 

6 1 2 United  Charities  Building 
105  EAST  22nd  STREET,  NEW  YORK 


